E R C mega stables clash for the crown !!!

New Zealand (NZ) Saturday, December 11, 2021 — 2:10 PM EST | Race ID : 2694979

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…………………………………………..U S NAVY FLAG………………………………………..

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Stakes – Sponsored – Purse : $100,000 – 2 Year Olds – Owner Restricted
8.5 Furlongs | ~1700 Meters | One Mile and One Sixteenths | Firm Turf
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The Elite Racing Club travels down under and then some to close out its 2021 stakes schedule with the U.S. Navy Flag. A field of nine club runners, including an upstart, upset minded filly, will be vying for the winner’ share of the $100,000 purse up for grabs. The winning owner/trainer will also claim the bulk of the stakes bonus points the club uses for its year end awards.
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They’ll be battling for 8.5 furlongs (or ~1700 meters for those metrically inclined) over what is expected to be a firm turf course at Ellerslie Race Course outside Auckland, New Zealand. I was lucky enough for the BTB to cover my expenses to cover this race in person, my first visit to Kiwi land. Some wiki trivia: Ellerslie Racecourse is the main racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand, for thoroughbred racehorses. It is an undulating, grass circuit in the suburb of Ellerslie, with a circumference of just under 1,900 metres. Racing is conducted in a clockwise direction, so I’ll look to the RIGHT as they straighten out for the stretch run.
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The race for the club championship will come down to a battle between the two most populated top barns, who boast over 3,600 head between them. It’s fitting that their entries are held as co first choices of the handicapper at 4/1 at the betting windows. Amir1605 has a narrow 2 point lead on harrylan going into our final event. Harrylan is seeking to be the first three time club champion; he now shares the dual win shelf with summerset and jbcri09. It’s been an exciting ERC stakes calendar in 2021. Amir1605 jumped out to a commanding lead through the spring – early summer races, but harrylan has surged to contention with an impressive second half performance. No matter the winner, they will certainly have earned it.
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So, harrylan saddles the unbeaten (3 for 3) THISONEREALLYWON looking to sew up the championship. Amir1605 counters with DANDOLINA, who has been showing steady improvement as the races have gotten longer. Dontbetonme (don’t take that advice) sends out the top entry point runner JUST ACCLAMATION, one of the three stakes winners in this group. The other two stakes winners are here courtesy of the “downs boys”, dunnville and newfy – newfy’s got MAGNEXODUS primed for a peak effort and dunn’s SHOW YOUR NINJA looks to continue his career long, in the money streak. Larrcamp goes with the markedly improving SEA FORMER, while winterset gets his feet wet in the ERC wars with his consistent filly BEACH PEARL. Jbcri09 has the fleet CHRISPY CAUSEWAY chomping at the bit for his first stakes try, and summerset completes the field, sending out well bred, first time starter TYPICAL TRIP.
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An interesting field, with a good mix of running styles, and a couple of possible surprises lurking. Who will lead, who will stalk, who will unleash that swift turn of foot heading into the lane, who will come from the clouds ? Those questions may be divined from the past performances, which we’ll peruse a bit and provide some food for thought .
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1
THISONEREALLYWON… IRE …2M …harrylanexp13
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This burly bay colt has lived up to his name thus far, taking a 3rd straight victory in as many tries in a NW3L allowance at a mile, plastering an 89 SP# in a stalking effort. No Nay Never nipper, out of the G2 winning sim mare Galileo Hill (by Galileo) took a NW2L allowance at 7.5 furlongs in his previous outing, pounding a 79 SP# from the back of the pack. One back of that he broke his maiden in fine fashion first time out in a local bred affair at 7 panels, punching a 77 SP# in a middle of the pack trip. The distance shouldn’t be a problem in his first stakes attempt; the handicapper likes his chances as co-favorite at 4/1 on the morning line for the harrylan conglomerate.
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2
JUST ACCLAMATION …CA… 2M… dontbetonme14
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The leading entry point runner is this streaking bay colt, who seeks his fourth straight victory after a scintillating stretch run to take the West Of The Sun listed stakes at a mile, sizzling a 91 SP# in a last to first performance. Acclamation athlete, out of the stakes winning sim mare Just A Jumper (by Just A Way) took a NW2x allowance at 7.5 panels one prior to that, sticking an 86 SP# with a strong closing run. One back of that he won a NW1x allowance at 8.25 furlongs, stabbing an 83 SP# with what seems to be his signature move. Dontbetonme protege should handle the trip, probably will be the blur flying down the straight toward the wire.
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CHRISPY CAUSEWAY… IRE… 2M… jbcri25
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Order Of St George offspring, out of the stakes winning sim mare Chrispy Divine (by Giant’s Causeway), got his first win in his 2nd start in an open maiden at a mile, whacking an 88 SP# in a front running performance. Gleaming chestnut colt tired to 4th in his initial outing after a prolonged pace duel in an open maiden at 7 furlongs, wrangling a 77 SP# in a promising debut. Runner from the jbcri25 racing operation looks like he could be the main speed in this group, just may be tough to catch with further improvement.
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DANDOLINA …FR …2M …amir1702
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Steadily improving bay colt carries the colors and stable hopes for the amir1605 super stable after a fast closing 2nd in an open allowance at this route, blasting a 92 SP# with a frenzied stretch run. Dabirsim dude, out of the graded placed sim mare Mandolina (by Dansili), showed some late interest in his prior run in the G3 The Founders stakes at a mile and an eighth, bagging an 87 SP# in a mid pack trip. One before that he won a NW2L allowance at this route, banking an 82 SP# from just off the early pace. Appears to be another who will do his best running late in the race; could get there in current condition.
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5
SEA FORMER …ENG …2M… larrcamp11
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Scratch bred Too Darn Hot tacker (by Sea The Stars), took a NW2L local allowance at this trip last time over, crushing a 94 SP# with a strong late move. Bruising bay colt was 2nd best one back of that in the same condition at a mile, crunching an 83 SP# with the same late charge. In his prior start he got his first win in a local bred open maiden at 7.5 furlongs, copping a 76 SP# with what seems to be his usual running style. Runner from the larrcamp racing group has won at the distance, but faces tough open company in his first stakes appearance; could be a stretch contender if he handles the class rise.
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SHOW YOUR NINJA… GB …2G… mapleleafdowns
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Bouncing bay gelding was 3rd last out in the club’s I Am Invincible stakes at seven furlongs, zapping an 88 SP# after setting all the early fractions. Showcasing stepper, out of the sim mare Click Your Ninja (by Falbrav) was 3rd in a NW2L allowance at 6.5 panels in his prior try, zinging a 76 SP# after making the early pace. He settled for 2nd one before that in a NW4L allowance at three-quarters of a mile, zipping a 79 SP# after leading from the flag fall. Runner from the mapleleafdowns barn of the dunnvilledowns operation will have company on the front end in this heat, may find this distance a bit daunting as they turn for home.
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TYPICAL TRIP …IRE… 2M… razer8
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Managing director summerset sends out this royally bred first time starter, who has been impressing the back stretch wise guys in morning trials. Scratch bred Fastnet Rock flasher (by Elusive Quality) has been a handful around the barn also, so he may be primed for a surprise effort.
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8
MAGNEXODUS… IRE …2G… nearysponddowns
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Coolly named bay gelding has shaken off his “shearing”, reeling off five consecutive wins, the latest in the Our Wars listed stakes at this route, pounding an 89 SP# in a stalking trip. Magna Grecia motorer, out of the stakes winning sim mare Eastern Exodus (by Makfi) won a NW3x allowance on the dirt at 7.5 panels one before that, popping an 86 SP# in a mid pack effort. His previous outing was a score in a NW3L allowance at 6.5 furlongs, posting a 77 SP# from the middle of the pack. Runner from the nearysponddowns barn of the newfydowns operation has won at the distance, in fine form, solid contender here.
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9
BEACH PEARL …FR …2F …wintersetfinco
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Watching them all exit the saddling area is our sole female, a beautiful bay filly who got the money last out with a strong late run in a local bred NW2L allowance at this trip, flashing a 74 SP# in a four horse field. Dabirsim doll, out of the stakes winning sim mare Mill Pearl (by Galileo), just missed when 2nd one back of that in a local bred NW1x allowance at 6 panels, flinging a 71 SP# from the back of the pack. She broke her maiden first time over in a local bred maiden at 5 furlongs, floating a 66 SP# with a powerful late run. Runner from the winterset racing stable steps well up in class here, distance should suit; handicapper needs convincing, as she’s the only double digit odds in the field at 14/1 on the tote.
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Good luck everybody, and may they all come home fast, safe and sound. Enjoy the holidays, and we’ll see you next year in the seasonal opener in Paris as older horses go on the green.